RUDI SKACEL is using Dundee United as a holding pen until the Hearts transfer embargo is lifted and the window re-opens in January.

He couldn’t be trusted to take a penalty kick against his former club on Wednesday night because he’d have deliberately missed it to help the Jambos into the semi final of the League Cup.

Peter Houston has heard all the conspiracy theories in the last few days and knows they are ridiculous.

He also knows in the sad, mad world of Scottish football that anything goes and that no amount of denials will make any difference.

But one thing that will stop the sniping over Skacel’s intentions will be goals from the Czech Republic attacker. And Houston believes that as soon as he gets Rudi back to match sharpness, he’ll start hitting the back of the net for his shot-shy outfit.

The Tannadice boss hopes Skacel can snatch one against Celtic tomorrow but he’ll have to come off the bench to do so, because the player is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes.

But when he is, Housty reckons the United support will love him just as much as the Jambos do.

And despite the widely held view that Skacel will swap his No.51 shirt at the Arabs – a cheeky reference to Hearts’ win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup Final – for a third stint in a maroon jersey at the end of his three-month stay in Tayside, Houston isn’t counting on it.

He insists that Skacel has already hinted at hanging around at least until the end of the season and if he produces the kind of form of which he is capable, United will be delighted to make that happen.

Houston said: “I know people are saying he’ll go to Hearts in January but who knows? When I brought him up here last Thursday and mentioned having him until January, his opinion was that perhaps it could be longer. We can look at that.

“He hasn’t indicated anything else but let’s not forget that he has affections for Hearts after the years he’s spent there and with the things he’s won there.

“But to be honest, he hasn’t shown any of that in his time here. He has mixed with the boys well. If he has done well for me come January, I’ll be asking the question.

“However, he might get more money at a different club and it might come down to that. He’s 33 and has probably made a few quid but you always want to make more, don’t you?

“As for Wednesday’s shootout, I didn’t want to put any more pressure on him. It can happen that someone misses a penalty but if he’d missed, it might have led to the United fans thinking the wrong thing.

“Rudi Skacel is committed to Dundee United in the time he is going to be here. He gets on well with the boys, is working hard in training and is a quality player.

“That’s why he’s here, even if it is only for three months. He’s the one that mentioned the possibility of staying longer. I’d like that to happen and if he doesn’t have anything else come January and he’s done well for us, I’m sure I’d want him until the end of the season and to be fair to the chairman, I’m sure he would as well.

“All we have to do with him now is get him fully fit, get a couple of games for him and get him starting games for us.

“When he starts scoring, the United fans will love him. He’ll show the quality he has got. He can be a good player for United.”

Houston is thrilled his team have a high profile game against the SPL leaders on the back of their painful cup exit. He reckons hosting Celtic will ensure his men don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves.

He said: “This is probably the best sort of game for us after the disappointment of losing in the cup in midweek. I watched Celtic against St Johnstone the other night and they had payback after their defeat by Kilmarnock.

“As soon as the first goal went in, Celtic started to relax and played the football they’re capable of. They’re a really good side. Neil Lennon said that if they throw in performances like they did against Kilmarnock with their fringe players then he’ll play his strongest side every week.

“But whoever he plays it will be tough as they have quality across the board. The Killie game was a kick up the backside.

“Believe it or not, it’s maybe an easier game for us to go into because when you’re against a so-called smaller club you’re expected to go out and play all the football and score a few goals at Tannadice.

“But any time you play Celtic at Tannadice you have to be at your 100 per cent best to beat them.

“We beat them 1-0 last season back in May when we were really organised. We didn’t play that well but we got the result. They weren’t at the top of their game and we defended very well so we’ll have to do something similar again on Sunday.

“We’re up against a team who are getting stronger and there’s not much difference, in my opinion, in the players who they can bring in through squad rotation. We can’t expect to be facing a Celtic team thinking only about Barcelona in midweek.”

Houston’s biggest concern is skipper Jon Daly, who hobbled off in midweek with a calf injury.

The Irishman has been playing centre half lately but the manager can’t wait to restore him to the frontline and will do that when Gary Mackay-Steven is fit enough to provide him with ammunition.

Houston added: “It’s touch and go with Jon. He has done fine at the back but I need somebody to help Johnny Russell and my preferred option is to play two up front.

“When Gary Mackay-Steven went out injured, we weren’t getting crosses into the box and we don’t have Paul Dixon to fire them in now. The other players who came in aren’t the type to get to the bye-line and get them in, but once Gary’s back we’ll start doing that again.”